Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-06
JOY AT THE CAPITOL.
GOOD NEWS AWAITING THE ASSEM-.
BLrEa OF THE LEeIsLArURE.
victory Of the Coupon Crusher" Over
Judge BOnd-Tbo speakership-
Contests for seats.

There was great Joy at the Capitol yes
terday upon receipt of kilograms on
nounoing that the Supreme Court of the
United States had decided the habcas
corpus in favor of the State of Virginia.
The litigation which had tins happy re-
suit grew out of the passage Of "the
ooupon-crusher "a bill passed at the
last session of the General Assembly.
lis opponents said that il was intended
to destroy the market for tax-receivnble
coupons, while its friends stoutly main
tanned that it was simply meant to give
the State the opportunity to zee that no
bogus coupons were forced upon her Off
GERS.
The measure was the result of con-
ference which Governor Lee caused 10
be held between several distinguished
lawycrs-Judge Burks and others-but
the originator of the plan was South
side Nlrginlan whose name iswell known
to the people of this Commonwealth. 1t
was introduced and urged in the House
by Mr.. Pollard, and Mr. Koiner was its
patron IN the Senate.
The Democratic members were not q
unit in favor Of the bill. and the Repub-
lcans shOwered upon it the most merci-
less ridicule
The title is somewhat lengthy, and
does not state its purpose, as popularity
understood, so concisely as the designa-
tion, Coupon Crusher," which the
Dispatch gave it. A number of suits
were begun under it by officers in differ
ent parts of the State, whereupon Mr..
Royal obtained from Judge Bond an in
junction.
Attorney. General Ayers was the first
officer of the Commonwealth to DISC
hey Judge Bond saying emphaticaly,
though respectfully, that Judge Bond
had no night to interfere. Common
ealths-Attorneys Scott and McCabe
also disobeyed the injunction. Al three
were hauled up before Bond for con-
tempt.
This public will not soon forget how
Bond ridiculed and denounced the vene-
rable Mr.. Scott-in fact treated him as
al idiot. Mr.. Scott is now vindicated
to the outside world. In Virginia, where
he is known as one of the purest of our
citizens, where he has long stood high at
the bar, he never needed vindication.
One of the first things that Mr.. Scott
did after getting out of jail when his APP
peal chats what it was III etiec) was al
lowed was to urge the lndemniiying
Board to employ Mr.. Conkling as conn
sci to assist Colonel Gordon and Mr..
Meredith. The board secured both MIR.
Conkling and Mr.. Tucker, and their
speeches. Notwithstanding legal and
journalistic criticisms--seem to have
convinced the Court. Attorney-General
Ayers early yesterday morning tele-
graphed Governor Lee of the decision,
and he reiOiced much. So did Colonel
Rulin and Colonel Marye and all the
Virginians who were at the Capitol.
Governor Lee has already prepared
about thirty typewriter pages OF
his message to the General Assem-
bly,, and all he will now have to
90 is TO add n few remarks on this
subject. What legislation, if any, will
now be necessary cannot be determined
until the exact and comprehensive char
acter of the opinion percolates through
the best legal minds. Certain 1t is that
the Democrats feel very happy, and on
the streets yesterday afternoon, after the
news was bulletined, there was almost as
much enthusiasm as when Cleveland was
found to be elected. The hOpe-per-
haps it is too previous lis that the
bondbolders viii all come in and fund
into new 3's, whereupon these securities
will probably bounce up TO a hgure that
will be pleasing.
rx-spEAKER sTUART's CONGRATULATIONS.
The Governor received the following
yesterday evening;
ALEXANDRIA, Va, Dec. 8, 1887.
Gorcrnor Fyt1hUgh Ice:
| congratulate you upon the success of
the extra session and the prospect OF a
speedy settlement OF the debt.
CHARLES E. STUART.
TIE sPEAKERsHIP.
At the Capitol just now public atten-
ton is focused on the speakership.
Messrs. Cardwel aud Pollard continue
70 lead all competitors, and the impress
sion is that no third man can come IN.
The exact strength Of each 1t is impossl-
ble to determine. \ large number of
members are absolutely uncommltted.
With either man in the chair the House
will be well presided over.
TIE OFFICES.
The continual talk about the Second
and Fourth congressionaldis districts mem
bers co operating to secure representa-
ton in the list of Capitol offices has
made some of the present incumbents a
trine uneasy, but as yet there is no
movement OF this sort observable.
CONTESTS.
Mr.. William NJ Ellis will contest the
seat of Mr.. Houston. Objection will
probably be made to the swearing-in OF
/ the latter